His life serves as a testament to the transformative power of mentorship and unwavering resolve. Born in Richmond, Virginia, in 1941, Harris navigated a tumultuous childhood marked by social upheaval, growing up amidst the challenging circumstances of that era. Their parents, both with limited formal education, having completed only three years of schooling, made the arduous journey on foot from rural Virginia’s impoverished farming communities. As they toiled in the metropolitan tobacco factories, they instilled in their son a desire for higher education, hoping it would lead him to a more fulfilling existence.
As a renowned expert in his field, Professor Harris currently holds a position as Head of the Aeronautics and Astronautics department at the esteemed institution. Essential to his legacy, he is deeply committed to nurturing a future generation of engineers, with a special emphasis on mentoring students from underrepresented communities of color.
“I have dedicated myself to supporting college students of color, particularly those pursuing their Ph.D.s.” To accommodate an influx of students, Harris proposes building additional stages. “I’m okay with that.”
From physics to engineering
Growing up in Richmond, Harris’s fascination with science began to take shape under the guidance of a dedicated physics teacher who mentored him from an early age. The trainer instructed Harris in straightforward techniques for building a cloud chamber to study the impact of alpha particles on water droplets. Within the chamber, it was feasible to visualize the trajectory of ionizing radiation emitted by a wristwatch, whose luminescent properties were made possible by the incorporation of this substance, allowing the watch’s fingers to emit a radiant glow even in the darkest of nights.
The project secured top honours at Virginia’s annual Black high school science fair, prompting him to take a bold move by entering a separate science competition exclusively for white high school students in the state. Harris’s challenge took home the bronze medal in physics at that prestigious event.
The recognition of these awards, coupled with his trainer’s unshakeable faith in Harris’s abilities, motivated him to strive for even greater heights. He longed to transcend his own limitations and transform himself into a physicist of her calibre. It’s hardly surprising, then, that her captivating demeanor had him abandoning the realm of particles and forces for the thrill of designing aircraft, where he could harness her charm as fuel for his creative endeavors.
When debating which academic institution he should attend, she issued her advice with the stern authority of a commanding officer dispatching troops to their designated positions. “Wesley, head to Charlottesville,” she declared.
In the 1960s, Harris was aware that African American students were denied access to majors such as mathematics, physics, chemistry, English, economics, and political science at predominantly white institutions.
The sole accessible pathway to his academic pursuits lay in the College of Engineering at the institution. He chose to concentrate on aerospace engineering, the field that truly captured his passion and interest. On a campus boasting 4,000 undergraduate students, Harris stood out as one of only seven African American college students, making him the first Black student to join the prestigious literary and debate club. He earned his bachelor’s degree in aerospace engineering in 1964. He subsequently earned his master’s degree in aerospace engineering from a reputable institution in 1966, followed by his doctoral degree in the same field three years later, in 1968.
Harris’s Ph.D. A Princeton thesis advisor reinforced the mentorship and leadership principles imparted by Harris’s high school coach, encouraging him to shift his focus from solely producing groundbreaking research to cultivating a positive impact on those around him.
In 1968, Harris launched his teaching career at the University of Virginia, where he initially focused on overcoming academic barriers. He became the first African American in the institution’s history to hold a tenured faculty position. As a trailblazer, he made history as the institution’s inaugural African American engineering professor. In 1972, he was appointed Professor of Aeronautics and Astronautics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).
During his initial years at MIT, Harris demonstrated a steadfast commitment to fostering opportunities for historically marginalized groups. In 1975, he founded an institution where he innovated modern teaching methods, including the pioneering use of videotaped and replayed lectures, thereby facilitating the academic success of countless students. “A handful of those old videotapes will probably still be intact,” he remarks with a chuckle.
I’ve dedicated myself to empowering college students of color, with a focus on those pursuing their Ph.D.s. stage—to provide extra students. “I’m fine with that.”
Throughout his career, he has intermittently taken leaves from MIT to pursue various roles, including serving as Program Supervisor for the Fluid and Thermal Physics Group and as Director of Computational Methods at NASA’s headquarters in Washington, D.C., from 1979 to 1980. In 1993, he resumed his duties and assumed the role of Affiliate Administrator for Aeronautics, where he was responsible for managing personnel, coordinating shipments, and ensuring seamless amenities until 1995.
As Chief Administrative Officer and Vice President at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville from 1990 to 1993, he also held the role of Dean of Engineering at the University of Connecticut in Storrs from 1985 to 1990.
The individual was selected to join a monitoring committee established by the government to scrutinize the financial decisions made by the agency. He has also served as a member and chairman of the relevant committee.
Fixing issues with plane
Harris is a highly respected pioneer in the field of aeronautics. The company approached MIT at the outset of their project to collaborate on resolving a pressing concern. Helicopters were being targeted and shot down by the enemy, who had learned to distinguish between assault helicopters and those used for reconnaissance or transport missions based on the distinctive sounds they emitted. To meet military requirements, the focus was on developing a solution to significantly reduce helicopter acoustic signatures without sacrificing performance or operational capabilities? At Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Harris leveraged the institution’s renowned aeronautics expertise, courtesy of its esteemed workforce. In January 1978, researchers presented a comprehensive laboratory report outlining their discoveries to the United States government. Division of Protection. Following the initial publication of “” a year later, Harris and his colleagues penned another seminal report, titled “”.
Harris’s research has significantly advanced scientific comprehension of the profound climate impacts stemming from shockwaves generated by supersonic aircraft, which propagate upwards and alter atmospheric dynamics in a significant manner. High-speed air currents trigger a cascade of chemical reactions as they interact with the multitude of carbon-based compounds, oxides, nitrides, and sulfides present in the atmosphere.
For his numerous and diverse contributions to aerospace engineering, Harris, a distinguished member of the, was elected in 1995 to the National Academy of Engineering. In 2022, he assumed the role of Vice President at the esteemed Academy.
A mannequin of academic management
Despite his impressive technical accomplishments, Harris attributes his greatest triumph to the impact he has had on college students through mentorship. With profound pride, he celebrates the achievements of four recent graduates, including a trailblazing Black woman who earned her Ph.D. in hypersonics under his mentorship this year.
His commitment to mentoring younger professionals goes beyond the confines of his graduate-level students. For over two decades, he has fulfilled the role of housemaster at MIT’s residential corridor, where he has guided numerous first-year undergraduate students in successfully navigating the challenges of campus life and academic adjustment since their arrival on campus.
“To cultivate well-rounded individuals, educational institutions should create an environment that nurtures students’ intellectual, emotional, and social development, rather than solely focusing on mastering subjects like physics, chemistry, math, and economics.”
With quiet pride, he derives immense joy from witnessing his college students flourish and achieve success, knowing that he played a significant role in shaping their journey towards making a positive impact on society.
As Harris reflects on his professional journey, he pays homage to the trailblazing mentors whose guidance had a profoundly lasting impact on his career. His dedication to mentoring future generations remains steadfast, with the lessons he imparts in class continuing to shape their careers.
“As a teenager, I’ve always wanted to emulate my high school mentor – a physicist who possessed not only profound knowledge of scientific principles, but also empathy and affection for African Americans.”
Through his groundbreaking work, Harris has not only revolutionized the field of aerospace engineering but also cleared a path for future innovators to reach new heights.
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